558 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



tliougli we could see tliat in tlie hollows it attained even 

 a greater height than this. The boughs were thickly 

 interlaced, and in the inside of the bushes mostly leafless. 

 That the climate agreed with this dwarf birch [Bekda 

 nana, L., va7\ genuina, Kegel) we could tell by the number 

 of catkins upon them. Later on we found that a stem of 

 four-tenths of an inch in diameter had sixty-seven rings. 



" The commonest of all, however, was the bilberry 

 (Vaccinmm uliginosum, L.) which covered the slopes, but 

 did not grow very high. Other striking plants were the 

 willow herb {Ejnlobium) and the harebells ; of the latter, 

 besides the elsewhere observed G. uniflora (L.), we found 

 the C. rotundifolia (L.), var. arctica (J. Lange), which 

 reached a stately height. Near it flourished the ever- 

 green Pyrola rotundifolia (L.), va7\ arenaria (Koch). 



" Here on the slopes, at a height of from 800 to 900 

 feet, was the finest and most varied vegetation ; and the 

 highest grasses and shrubs mostly in bloom, and some 

 bearing fruit. And as a last surprise, we discovered the 

 Alpine-rose (Rhododendron lapponicum, L.), but, unfor- 

 tunately, the blossoms were over. The same was the 

 case with the bearberry (Ardostaphylos alpina, Spreng.), 

 of which, in spite of all our seeking, we could only find a 

 small bush, on which hung some fine ripe fruit. The 

 most interesting find, however, to us, because not pre- 

 viously met with, was the moss Grlmmla lanuginosa (0. 

 Miill.), var. arctica. 



" Besides birds, we also caught an ermine hurrying 

 between the stones, and saw ravens, ducks, hares, and 

 reindeer ; of the latter, near Eleanora Bay, was a 

 whole herd. The only traces of the natives were the 

 remains of store-holes and tent-rings or circles." 



